Athletics

Athletics Mission Statement

We offer a fun environment that encourages physical growth and character development for learners participating in athletics and aids in the holistic development of every learner.
We provide a combined knowledge of various specialized areas within athletics.
We create opportunities for learners to learn and master skills.
We encourage competitive excellence.
We put the learner first in the execution of our duties.
We provide learners with the confidence to compete against other schools.
We strive to grow within the knowledge of and passion for athletics together with our learners.
Where possible and practically, we look to provide maximum participation in both training and competition for the athletes.

Vision

The Kenridge athletics program strives to create a lifelong passion for sport amongst learners by providing an educational experience through which learners can maintain a balance between intellectual pursuits, social interaction and healthy competition that complements the development of the whole individual. The focus in the Foundation Phase is to provide basic skills training and apply those skills. The focus in the Intermediate Phase is to build on those basic skills and strive to excel through experience, training and participation at the highest level for every athlete.

Coaching:

The coaching approach at Kenridge is to:

To use the experience and knowledge of the academic/ Internal staff.
Where necessary and practically, upskill the coaches by providing skills clinics from external/ outside professional coaches to complement training for both coaches and athletes.
Use the facilities and resources available to provide structured training sessions whereby athletes can develop and improve their skills.

Athletics team selection process

Athletes are selected into the team based on the Interhouse Athletics results which are recorded from the end of the 4^th term of the previous year. The top 3 to 4 positions in both track and field events are selected into the team and positions 5 to 10 of the finals are selected into the Pre-team (non-competition) whereby they are looked at to possibly have the chance to be selected into the team if their times or distances warrant such a selection for the competition.

Athletes who fall outside of the top 10 or any athlete new to athletics will be able to join the fitness and conditioning training sessions offered in Term 1 (Social Athletics). These sessions will help with the build-up to the Winter program. Trials will be done at the end of Term 3 for the Team, Pre-team and any athlete wanting the opportunity to be selected for the Team in Term 4.

Participation in various competitions:

Interhouse competitions are conducted at the end of Term 4 whereby learners are selected on a trial basis done in PE lessons.
Athletics meetings are offered by Kenridge both in track (U/7 – U/13) and field events (U/10 – U/13).
Competitions hosted by other schools.
Zonal, Regional and National Athletics meetings – specific selection process (see under Zonal process)
Additional – hosted by clubs.

The following Athletics items are offered for the athletes:

GIRLS

60m

80m

100m

Relay

800m

1200m

1500m

70m H

75m H

Race Walk

Long Jump

High Jump

Shot Put

Discus

Javelin

U/7

U/8

U/9

U/10

U/11

U/12

U/13

BOYS

60m

80m

100m

Relay

800m

1200m

1500m

70m H

75m H

80m H

Race Walk

Long Jump

High Jump

Shot Put

Discus

Javelin

U/7

U/8

U/9

U/10

U/11

U/12

U/13

Mini-Athletics (U/7 – U/9):

The focus in the Foundation Phase is to provide basic skills training and apply those skills.

Events: Sprints (60m and 80m) and relays

U/7: Athletes are invited to attend the non-compulsory Grade One trial in January. All athletes’ times will be recorded during heats. The fastest 16 athletes will run in the semi-finals and thereafter finals will be run.

The top 8 athletes, who run in the final, will be the 8 learners selected to take part in team training.

During practices, these athletes will have informal run-out sessions for us to identify the top runners in the grade. The top 4 athletes will be invited to attend competition meetings.

U/8 and U/9: Learners will be invited to join the team practices based on Interhouse Athletics results which would have been recorded in Term 4 of the previous year.

Competition meetings are attended by these athletes.

The Kenridge Athletics Team is entered for as many Athletics Meetings as we are invited to or can get an invitation to. Maximum participation is required and where possible the maximum entrants should be selected based on performance and or on the level of competition. Where possible the athletes will be selected either for an opportunity to gain experience or to achieve/ compete at a certain level of competition.

Parents are required to indicate to the coach and or age group manager the availability of their learner and if not available, another learner should then be allowed to participate.

Zonal Athletics (U/10 – U/13 only):

The top 2 athletes will be selected and entered for the Zonal Athletics (Durbell) meetings that take place in February. The first round of events is the selection for the following round and if the athletes qualify will then move on to the next round to the provincial level and then the national level. It is important to note that once selected, the athlete may not withdraw in the next round and is fully committed from the start. Any other school competition withdrawals can be made but for the Zonal and MNED meetings, they will be representing their Zone and or District. Details concerning dates, ID/ BC documentation and venues will be indicated to the parents when the schools are notified from their Zone or District Office. Programs are made available as soon as the final arrangements have been confirmed and sent out timeously. Athletes may enter up to 5 events for the first round but must note that from round 2 onwards the number of items per athlete becomes less and this is due to the running of the program on the day bear in mind that some athletes will be running heats and finals for some track events and clashes may occur.

Dress code:

Athletes that participate in Athletics need to wear the correct running gear consisting of either the green athletics vest or green PE shirt and shorts. White or black shoes and white school socks are an option to wear to and from practice. Spikes are optional and can only be worn on grass surfaces.

Athletes competing in competitions must arrive and leave the competition in the correct Athletics gear. During their race or event, they may wear green or black running tights and must then dress appropriately when receiving an award or medal.

Practice times:

Below are the new times and days for athletics practice for Term 1.

Monday (Lötter Field)

14:30 – 15:15 (Field events – Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Put) – U/10 – U/13
15:15 – 16:00 (Track events – Sprints and Hurdles) – U/9 – U/13

Tuesday (Lötter Field)

14:30 – 15:15 (Track events – Sprints and Hurdles) – U/9 – U/13
15:15 – 16:00 (Field events – Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Put) – U/10 – U/13

Wednesday (Lötter Field)

14:30 – 15:30 U/9 – U/13 (track and field)

Tuesday (mornings)

06:45 – 07:15 Middle distance and Race Walk (Mashford Field)
06:45 – 07:15 Discus and Javelin (Koos Eksteen Field)

Thursday (mornings)

06:45 – 07:15 Middle distance and Race Walk (Mashford Field)
06:45 – 07:15 Discus and Javelin (Koos Eksteen Field)

See the table below for the coaching staff for Athletics 2024

Discipline	Team Coaches	Pre-team Coaches
· Hoogspring/ High Jump	· Mr Hill · Mev. Van Rhyn · Mnr. Matthee	· Mr Hill · Mev. Van Rhyn · Mrs Leask
· Verspring/ Long Jump	· Mev. Le Roux ·	· Mrs Preuss
· Gewigstoot/ Shot Put	· Mnr. Bennett · Mev. Harvie	· Mej. Smith
· Diskus/Discus · Javelin	· Mnr. Bennett · Mnr. Matthee	·
· Sprints	· Mev. Le Roux · Mej. Nortjie	· Mrs Els · Miss McEvoy
· Hekkies/ Hurdles	· Mev. Van Eeden · Mnr. Matthee	·
· Middel afstand/ Middle distance	· Mr Hill	· Mrs Els · Miss McEvoy
· Stap/ Race Walk	· Mnr. Van der Merwe	·

Team managers:

U10 – Mev. Chrisna le Roux

U11 – Mev. Nicola van Eeden

U12 – Mev. Elanka Harvie

U13 – Mrs Babette Els

General Manager – Mr Clinton Hill

Awards/ Recognition:

Results of the Athletics meetings can be made available on School Communicator.

Awards are handed out at special assemblies at the end of the year.

Awards are handed out at the Sports Prestige Evening at the end of the year.

Information, results, upcoming events, specific dates, and photos/videos can be shared on the Kenridge Social media platforms.

Communication:

The Athletics management team will communicate with parents via email the necessary information for competitions, updates, programs, dates and other important matters.

Contact persons:

Head of Athletics – Clinton Hill clinton.hill@kenridge.org.za

Head of Mini-Athletics – Jana de Jongh jana.dejongh@kenridge.org.za